OJJDP FY25 Expanding Youth Access to Community-Based Treatment

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), a component of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, has announced a funding opportunity titled “Expanding Youth Access to Community-Based Treatment.” This initiative is designed to improve the availability and quality of community-based treatment for youth under the age of 18 who are either currently involved in the juvenile justice system or at high risk of such involvement due to substance use disorder (SUD) or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder (MHSUD). The funder’s mission is to promote public safety, uphold civil rights, and improve juvenile justice responses through targeted support to local and state jurisdictions, nonprofits, and tribal governments. The primary purpose of this grant is to expand and improve cross-system approaches that enhance responses and outcomes for youth affected by SUD and MHSUD. By focusing on community-based solutions rather than formal justice system involvement, the grant seeks to divert youth away from deeper entanglement in the justice system while ensuring access to appropriate treatment services. Funded programs will be expected to develop and strengthen strategies, referral mechanisms, and partnerships that identify affected youth early, improve access to community resources, and address underlying behavioral health conditions. This opportunity will provide up to $6,000,000 in total funding, with an anticipated 10 awards and individual award ceilings of up to $600,000. The expected period of performance is 36 months, beginning on June 1, 2026. The grant does not require matching funds, and budgets may be proposed for less than the maximum ceiling amount as long as they are reasonable and aligned with the applicant’s capacity. Funds may not be used for activities that violate federal immigration law, discriminate unlawfully, or provide legal services to unauthorized non-citizens, except as expressly allowed. Additionally, costs such as employee compensation over a certain threshold, or unapproved consultant rates, may be restricted per federal guidelines. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, or township governments, federally recognized tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations, both with and without 501(c)(3) status. The funding opportunity is open nationwide without geographic restrictions. Applications involving multiple entities are allowed, but only one organization may serve as the primary applicant, with others listed as subrecipients. The application process involves a two-step submission. First, applicants must submit the SF-424 through Grants.gov by May 4, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The second step requires applicants to complete and submit the full application in JustGrants by May 11, 2026 at 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Required application components include a proposal narrative (maximum 20 pages), a detailed budget form, and various disclosures and certifications. Key elements of the proposal narrative include a description of the need, project goals and objectives, implementation plan, and the applicant’s capabilities. The application must also address how the applicant will collect and report performance data aligned with the program’s stated objectives. OJJDP will review submissions based on responsiveness and merit. Applications will be evaluated on factors such as clarity of problem statement, quality of the implementation plan, alignment with the NOFO objectives, and organizational capacity. Additional programmatic and financial reviews may assess risk, past performance, and geographic diversity. Awards are expected to be announced after the peer and internal review processes conclude, and notifications will be made via JustGrants. Following award notification, successful applicants must comply with post-award reporting requirements, including quarterly financial reports, semi-annual performance reports, and, if applicable, annual audits. Recipients may also be subject to evaluation by OJP and must ensure compliance with federal civil rights laws and financial management standards throughout the award period.

Submit 48 hours early; align narrative with SUD/MHSUD objectives; ensure Grants.gov and JustGrants registration; document performance tracking capacity